Be Persistent

About 30 years ago, a young woman graduated from college with a BA in American studies.  The twenty-two year old had aspirations of working in television, but knew landing a job in that competitive industry would be a challenge.  She sent out resumes and made cold calls, but neither of those methods yielded success.  One morning, she decided to put on her best professional outfit-a blue blazer, a blouse, and a bowtie- and find a job.  She hopped into her family’s cream-colored Buick station wagon and headed down to the ABC News bureau in Washington D.C.

Despite her prior efforts to earn an interview at ABC, she was ignored by the deputy bureau chief’s secretary.  So she went down to the bureau in person and asked the security guard if she could see the deputy bureau chief.  When he learned she did not have an appointment, he chuckled at her and said she could not see him at this time.  Not easily defeated, she asked if she could use the phone in the waiting area, dialed the operator, and asked, “Can you connect me to David Newman, the executive producer of World News Tonight?”  He answered his phone, and she explained to him that his twin brothers went to high school with her sister.  She also told him that she lives down the street from his sister Julie.  Then, she asked if she could come up to the newsroom and visit with the deputy bureau chief.  Completely taken aback by her forwardness, he responded, “Sure, come on up.”

Still impressed, he dropped her off in front of the deputy bureau chief’s door as she walked right back the secretary who disregarded her calls and resume.  She told the deputy she was qualified to work for ABC and she could bring a unique skill set to the organization.  A few weeks later, she was hired.

This short story is a testament to the power of persistence and ambition.  Without taking action to make yourself stand out, achievement will be tough to attain.  You are bound to make a few mistakes along the way, but you will learn something by seizing opportunities.

Incidentally, the woman in the story is award-winning journalist Katie Couric.  The anecdote above can be found in her book, ‘The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons from Extraordinary Lives‘